Cass Freedland, Ph.D.

France-Merrick Director of Community-Based Learning

Education

B.S., University of Minnesota, Dept. of Geology, 1983Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Forestry, Wood Chemistry, 1990

Additional Higher Education

NYS Professional Certificate in Museum Studies, Dept. of Museum Studies, New York University, 1995. Internship in Museum Studies, Department of Educational Program Development & Department of Education, New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows, NY

Freedland, C., Rowell, R.M. and Winandy, J.E. (1989). Fundamental relationships between chemical composition and several clear-wood mechanical properties as they apply to live oak timbers in or for the U.S.S. Constitution. Report submitted to the U.S. Department of Navy.

Biography

I believe that college-community partnerships are a potent engine for bringing positive change to struggling urban neighborhoods. Developing strategic, mutually beneficial college-community partnerships elevate faculty scholarship, student learning, program administration, community partner service delivery and constituents' quality of life. Although maintaining such partnerships is complicated and takes long-term institutional commitment from multiple stakeholders at the highest administrative levels, the results can be transformative when all factors align.

As educators, we are always searching for ways to guide our student body toward becoming well-rounded, thoughtful and engaged individuals. From my experience as an educator, researcher, program administrator and fundraiser, I have learned that successful program leadership requires a complex understanding of how to shape experiential and research priorities, define essential learning outcomes and communicate common goals with both academic and non-academic audiences.

Because we know that higher education plays a key role in future personal and professional satisfaction, we must offer many strategies to engage our students: with faculty in the classroom through vigorous dialog, reflection and carefully constructed curricula; among peers through participation in clubs and professional organizations, student government associations and residence hall programming; with local community members through volunteerism, service learning projects and internships.